Improvement in atmospheric-gas engines



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J'. WERTHEIM.

ATMOSPHERIC GAS ENGINE. No.185,709. Patented Dec. 26, 1X876.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3. I. WERTHEIM.

ATMOSPHERIC GAS ENGINE. N.185,709. Emme@ De.2e,1a7.

WITNESSES s www UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

JOSEPH WERTHEIM, OF BORNHEIM, PRUSSIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN ATMOSPHERIC-GAS ENGlNES.

`peciiication forming part of Letters Patent No. 185,709, dated December 26, 1876; application filed October 9, i876.

To all whom Iit may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH WERTHEIM, of Bornheim, near Franki'ort-on-the-Main, Germany, have invented a new and Improved Atmospheric-Gas Engine, of which the following is a specification The invention relates to an improved combined atmospheric-gas engine, in which the explosive force of a suitable gas-and-air mixture and the atmospheric pressure are utilized as motive powers; and it consists,mainly, of a cylindrical explosion-dome, connected by a Siphon-pipe with a reservoir. In this pipe, but at its lower part, is a paddle-wheel, arranged in a casing with curved chutes, on which the power of the explosion in the dome and of the atmospheric pressure created by the vacuum therein is exerted by means of water or other liquid.

The explosion may be produced by a suitable mixture of illuminating-gas and air that is admitted into the explosion-dome, and ignited by a slide-valve with an igniting mechanism. The explosion forces the liquid, through a double-valve arrangement of the siphonpipe, paddle-wheel, casing, and connecting channels, into the liquid-reservoir at the end of the Siphon-pipe, and back again by the vacuum formed in the dome and pipe, iinpal ting, by the forward and return motion, a continuous rotary motion to the paddle wheel. The liquid-valves control the escape of the gases from the explosionchamber, in connection with the return of the liquid, by means of a slide-valve and interior pendent neat-valves, any mechanieally-escaping liquid being returned by a small collecting-chamber and pipe to the liquid-reservoir.

The regulating device is operated in con- ,nection with the fly-wheel of the paddle-wheel shaft, interrupting tem porarily the explosions in the dome when the speed is too fast; the special construction of the explosion-dome, with its slide-valve. air and gas admitting devices, and igniting apparatus, together with the valve arrangement for the escape of the gases of combustion, the governor, the liquidvalve chamber, paddlewheel and casing, liquid-reservoir, and air-supply pump, being more fully described hereafter, and then pointed out in the claims.

By reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrating myinvention, Figure l represents a side elevation of my improved combined atmospheric-gas engine; Fig. 2, an end View, partly in section, through the paddlewheel casing; Fig. 3, a vertical central section of the airsupply pump; Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal section of the paddle-wheel, casing, and liquid-valves on enlarged scale; Fig. 5, a top View ofthe explosion-dome with regulator; Fig. 6, a detail side view of the clutch-connection of governor and shaft of slide-valve, illustrating working of regulating mechanism; Fig. 7, a detail horizontal section of igniting apparatus. Figs. 8 and 9 are side views of explosion-dome and slide-valve, showing the same, respectively, in position/for receiving the supply of air and gas, and for being ignited. Fig. l() is a detail vertical transverse section of slide-valve and igniter, showing method oflighting the igniter after each explosion; Fig. ll, a detail section of the burner of the igniting apparatus. Figs. l2 and 13 are vertical transverse sections ot' the upper chamber of explosion-dome, with the slide and pendent valves for the escape of explosion gases, shown, respectively, in open and closed position; and Figs. 14 and l5 are horizontal sections of the explosion-dome, respectively on lines m .r and y y, Fig. l2.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

In describing my combined atmosphericgas engine, I will tirst describe the main parts of the same-namely, the explosion-dome, with its main slide-valve and igniting apparatus; then the siphon-pipe, with its valvechamber, the paddle-wheel and casing, the liquid-reservoir, and air-supplying apparatus; and, finally, the governor and extension-chamber of the explosion-dome, with its valves for the expansion of the gases of combustion.

In the drawing, A, Fig. 1, represents the explosion-dome, which isa cylindrically-turned body, closed at the upper end, and provided with one straight side, along which thel main slide-valve A1 is guided in suitable manner. The dome A has an entrance-opening, a, for the explosive mixture of air and illuminatinggas, and near to it an opening', a', serving as place of ignition. (Both shown in Figs. 8 and 9.) The slide-valve A' moves alongthe straight face ot' the dome A in an elliptical line, the motion being imparted by a revolving disk, b, to which the upper end ot' the slide-valve is pivoted, and by a square pivoted guide-piece, b1, along which the lower slotted end of the slide-valve moves. The revolving disk b has a segmental slot, b2, in which the connectingpivot of the slide-valve moves freely, and by which the slide-valve is raised until, after the disk has passed its upper dead-point, the slidevalve is quickly drawn downward by the action of a spring, b3, at its lower end, the slot serving to guide the slide-valve until its pivot arrives at the lowest point ot' the slot. During the upward motion ot the slide-valve, as produced by the crank-disk b, a segmental slot, d, of' the slide-valve A1 t'orms communication with the entrance-opening aot' the dome, while the ignition-opening a remains closed by the slide-valve. By the downward motion 0f the slide-valve the opening a will be closed, while the igniting apparatus G, tlxed to the slide-valve, slides over the ignition-opening a', so as to communicate therewith for an instant, and cause the ignition of the explosive gasand-air mixture therein. The slide-valve A1 is covered by a plate, A2, which is firmly held.

in position on the dome, but so as to bereadi- 1y detachable, by a clamping-screw, e, turning in a fixed arm, el, and by fastening pins e2, as shown in Figs. 5, 8, and 9. 'lhe covering-plate A2 is provided with a side recess, f, ot'sutlicient size to admit the unobstructed motion of the igniter G ot' the slidevalve. It has also two small oblong openings, fl and fl, ot' which one is larger than the other, and which correspond with the entrance-opening a of the dome. Through the larger opening f2 the atmospheric air is admitted to the dome, while the illuminatinggas enters through the smaller openingf1,and gas-pipe connected therewith. The quantity of gas required is regulated by means of a cock, so that the exact proportions of air and gas for the explosive mixture are obtained. The square entrance-openings f1 f2 ot' the covering-plate are arranged at suitable inclination to the vertical axis, and intended to produce, in connection with the arc-shaped or segmental opening d ot' the slide-valve, a regular supply of gas and air to the dome during the up and downward motion of the slidevalve, together with the simultaneous opening and closingot' the corresponding openings.

The iguiting apparatus G consists ot a cylindrical inclosing-casing, g, that is attached to the slide-valve, as shown in Figs. 2, 7, 8, and 9, heilig open at the point ot' attachment, to communicate with the ignition-opening a otl the dome. A gas-pipe, g1, enters through the end o f the casing g, and may be opened or closed by a stop-cock. The iguiter G is applied to the slide-valve in such a manner that when the same arrives at its lower-most point, and just before it begins to move upward, the casing g communicates with the atmosphere;

but as soon as the slide-valve has passed the highest point and begins its rapid downward movement, the opening of the igniter communicates with the ignition-opening ot' the dome.

A burner, g2, at the end of gas-pipe'gl in the interior ot' casing g, produces the ignition ot' the explosive mixture in the dome at the moment when the opening ot casing passes over the igniter-opening a', the burner g2 coinmunicating again with the atmosphere on the arrival ot' the slide-valve at its lowest position. The burner g2 is so constructed that the explosion extinguishes its dame, which is lighted again by a small gas-flame of a pipe, h, at the side ot the dome at the. moment when the igniter communicates with the air, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

The construction of the burner gv' is shown in detail in Fig. 11, and consists of a tixed outer tube, g3, attached to the gas-pipe g1, and provided with one small outlet-opening t'or the gas. A sliding sleeve, g4, moves along the thinner end ot' the gas-pipe, at the inside of the tube g3. and communicates therewith by small openings near the circumference of the front end ot' the sleeve. A spiral spring, g5, is interposed between the shoulder of the gas-pipe and the rear end of sleeve g4, and serves to push the sleeve instantly forward after the force ofthe explosive gases has thrown the same back. The solid central part ot' the front end of the sleeve g4 closes., at the moment otl the explosion, the end of the gas-pipe, and extinguishes thereby the tlame, which, however, is lighted again by the forward motion of' the sleeve as the gas is allowed to pass out through the perforations ot' the sleeve and outer burner-tube, to be relighted by the nearly simultaneous connection with the continually-burning dame of gaspipe h at the end of the stroke of the slidevalve.

The gases of combustion, which have filled the entire casing g of the igniter, are-expelled by fresh air, which enters through a pipe. t', so that the gas is lighted without dit'- tculty. The air-pipe'i is arranged parallel to the casing g, and allowed to enter at therear end ot the same by being bent at a right i The inner end of pipe z', in the samifffj angle, manner as ,the end ot' the gas-pipe g1, issurrounded by a sliding aiidgspring-acted sleeve or cover, fil, to prevent the entrance ot' the gases of combustion.

The air-pi pe is provided with a spring-acted cock, ffl, which is closed by' contact with a face, 113, ot' the dome, Figs. 2 and 5, during the time when the opening of the igniter is closed, by passing along the side of the dome. At the moment when the igniter arrives at the opening a' the handle of the cock i2 leaves the contact-face t, and is opened by the action of the spring, so' as to supply fresh air to the interior ot' the igniter at the moment/ot' the ignition. J

The temporary closing of the cock i2 s necessary for the purpose of preventing'theadmission of air into the. casing g at the time when the igniter is` closed by the side of the dome, as the free entrance and pressure ot' air would extinguish the flame before the igniter arrives at the ignition-opening, so as to prevent the explosion.

The explosion-dome A communicates, by a siphon-pipe, B, secured by an angular joint to the bottom part ofthe same, with a paddlewheel box or casing, C, at the lowermost part of the siphon -pipe, and with a liquid-reservoir, D, at the other end of the same. The engine is lilled with any suitable liquidas Water, mercury, dta-through the reservoir D, until, by passing through the Siphon-pipe, wheel-casing, and dome, it arrives at a level at suitable height above the reservoir, as indicated in Fig. l by a li'ne drawn across the air-pipe Dl of the reservoir.

After the liquid has li-lled the dome, which is indicated by its running out of a stop-cock, of the same, this Stop-cock is closed and the level of the liquid in the reservoir reduced toY about the middle line of the same by a stop-cock, o. The engine is now ready for the action of the explosions in the dome, the liquid serving as a kind of movable piston, which forms a continuous air-tight connection with the parts ot' the engine. This liquidpiston is, by the force of the explosion, compelled to move downward in the Siphon-pipe B, and through a valve chamber, E, ot' the same, near the connection of the pipe B with the paddle-wheel casing C, onto the paddlewheel C1, so as to revolve Ythe same, passing out ot' the same through a channel at the opposite side of the Wheel into the vertical section ot' the Siphon-pipe, and into the liquidreservoir. The vacuum produced by the explosion in the dome and upper part of inclined Siphon-pipe forces, by the atmospheric pressure, the liquid immediately back through an upper channel of the wheel-casing onto the upper part of the paddle-wheel, passing back through the valvechamber into the siphon-pipe and dome, to be acted on again in the same manner by the successive explosions of the air-and-gas mixture.

VThe valve-chamber E is provided with two swinging v-alves, E1 and E2, which admit the passage of the liquid in either direction, the

valve E1 swinging downward to allow the downward motion of the liquid, the other upward to admit the return motion of the same. The lower half of chamber E is separated into two channels by a central partition, of which one channel communicates with the lower channel p, the other with the upper channel p1, of the wheel-casing. In the ordinary pendent position of the valve E the liquid may be forced out of the dome by the pressure ofthe entering air. The force ot' the explosion forces the liquid down and presses the valve EZ tightly to its seat, while the valve E1 is pushed into a recess at the lower side of the partition, to allow the unobstructed passage of the liquid through the lower channel p. When the liquid is forced back the atmospheric pressure closes the valve E1, and causes the liquid to ow through the upper channel p1, pushing the valve EZ open for the passage of the liquid to the dome.

The wheel-casing C lits sufliciently to the sides of the paddle wheel G1 to admit the ready turning of the same by the action of the liquid. The buckets or paddles are fitted to move close to the solid partition-sections p2, between the channelsp and p1, and also to the chutes or guides p3 ot' the wheel-casing. The liquid is forced by the chutes on the paddles, and produces the continuous rotary motion ot' the Wheel by the alternating action of the liquid on the lower and upper paddles, as caused bythe explosion and the vacuum in the dome.

The shaft ofthe paddle-wheel turns in suitable bearings ofthe casing (J, and extends at both sides to the outside ofthe same, having a [1y-wheel, C2, at one end, and connecting, by a crank at the opposite end, with a small airpump, F, that supplies, by means ot' a reservoir, F1, fresh air to the igniting apparatus of the slide-valve. The fly-whee U2 transmits the power, by belt-and-pulley connection, to the slide-valve, governor, and other contrivances.

The liquid-reservoir D receives the liquid driven out of dome A and the Siphon-pipe B, and communicates with the atmosphere by its tube D. Below this tube is arranged, at the inside ol' the reservoir, a tin or iron covering-plate, q, (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1,) that prevents the liquid from being thrown out of tube D.

The reservoir l) connects, by a pipe, q1, with a small water-exit chamber, q2, of the explosion-dome, for conducting any liquid that may be carried along b v the escaping gases Ofcombustion back into the reservoir l). The discharge-opening ot' pipe q1 is above the cover g, and protected by an extension, g3, ot' the same against the entrance of the liquid into the pipe q1.

The cock of the reservoir is opened for obtaining the required level in the same for starting the engine, while the cock ot' the dome is opened to let out the air until the engine is entirely tilled with liquid.

The air-pump F forces air into the vessel F1, which has a central tubular part, F2, open at the top and bottom, and is filled with water, for keeping the air in the vessel F1 compressed. The air enters the vessel F1 at the upper part by a pipe, r, connecting with the pump, and supplies the casing got' the igniter by a pipe, r. The surplus of air escapes through the central part F2. The gearing of the iiy-Wheel C2 operates the disk shaft r of the slide-valve A1, turning in supports at the top of the explosion -dome. A clutch mechanism, l, throws the disk-shaft 1' and pulley shaft s into or out of gear. The clutch l consists of a catch, Z1, of the disk-shaft, that connects, by a sliding and spring-acted tooth, l2,

with a toothed disk, l, keyed to the pulleyshaft, as shown in Fig. 5.

The sliding tooth and disk couple the diskshaft and pulley-shaft until separated by the governor m., which is revolved, in the customary manner, from the fly-wheel of the engine, and actuates a fnlcrumed lever, m', that is thrown down when the engine runs at too great speed, so as to engage a projection of sliding tooth l2, as shown in Fig. 6, withdraw the tooth from the disk, and interrupt their connection, throwing thereby instantly the disk-shaft out of gear. The motion ot' the slide-valve A1 is thereby temporarily interrupted when at its lowest position, and thus a cessation of the explosions produced until the speed of the engine is sufciently diminished, so that the lever will be raised aud released from the tooth, and thereby,by the action ofthe spring on the tooth, the clutchconnection ot' the disk and pulley shafts will be re-established, and the operation of the slide-valve and explosion-dome resumed. The gases of combustion are expelled from the upper part of the dome after explosion by means of an extension chamber or casing, A3. (Shown in section in Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15.) The chamber A3 has an exit-opening, fn, which is closed by a slide-valve, nl, guided at the interior of the cham ber, and operated by cranklever connection with the valve E2 of the valve-chamber E. The exit-opening n is further provided with a pendent valve, n.2, at the outside, for the purpose of preventing the entering of the atmospheric air.

The pendent valve n2 is opened by the pressure of the combustion gases, when the slidevalve nl establishes communication with the exit-openin g n, and is immediately closed after the expulsion of the gases is completed. The slide-valve nl is opened by the downward motion imparted by a fulcrumed leverarm, n, pvoted to a pin of the valve at one end, and to a crank-rod, n4, at the other end, the crankrod n* connecting with an outside crank, a5, of valve E2. (See Fig. 1.) The return motion of the liquid opens thus, simultaneously with the valve E2, the slide-valve nl, for the escape of the gases.

A spiral spring, as, attached to the outermost end of the lever-arm a3, closes the exitopening n of the extension -chamber A3 by carrying the slide-valve in upward direction, and assists also to close, at the same time, the liquid-valve E2. The closing motion ofthe slide-valve nl is, however, not accomplished by the spring ns alone, but assisted by the direct force of the returning liquid, which rises in the explosion-dome and drives out the gases of combustion. The cis viva of the ascending liquid, forced up by the atmospheric pressure, acts on two pendent tlap-valves, s, that are hinged to a sleeve, s, sliding on a pin or stud, s2, that extends downward from a plate, s3, secured by a connectingbracket to the slidevalve nl. The plate s3 bears with the greater part of its circumference on the inside of the dome, but leaves at one side a space of sucient width for the escape of the gases ot' combustion. The pendent valves s are fitted to the interior of the dome, and close, on being spread open, entirely. the inner periphery of the same.

The slide-valve nl is closed when the explosion takes place, at which moment the sliding sleeve and pendent valves are seated on the enlarged lower end of t'ne guide-pin s2, and allow the gases to escape; but as soon as the liquid rises in the dome sufficiently to reach the pendent valves, it will swing them open and carry them upward against the plate s3, so as to accelerate the forcing out of the gases and close the slide-valve al by their pressure against plate s3. In Figs. 12 and 13 the positions of the slide and pendent valves are shown at the moment when the liquid begins to ow back, and when the dome is free of gases and filled with liquid. The liquid, having passed by its m's cica above the level of the reservoir, will readily recede, on the entrance of a fresh quantity of mixed gas and air, down to the siphonpipe, the pendent valves following the receding motion along its guide-pin until they arrive again at the lowermost position thereon, ready for the next rising of the liquid and expulsion ot the gases. The engine may be constructed in large and small scale, having, by the motion ot' the liquid-piston, but little friction, being, therefore, adapted for driving sewing and other machines requiring cheap motors of small power, as well as for larger machines.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. An atmospheric-gas engine, constructed mainly of an explosion-dome and appendages, of a Siphon-pipe with paddle-wheel and liquidreservoir, and of a liquid actuated by the explosive force ot' a suitable gas-and-air mixture in the dome by atmospheric pressure, all combined and substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of the explosion-domeV A, having entrance-opening a and ignitionopening a', with the slide-valve A1, reciprocated as shown, having segment-opening d,

and igniter G, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination of explosion-dome with entrance-opening a, slide-valve A1, reciprocated as shown, with segment-opening d, and covering-plate A2, with corresponding gas and air openings fl f2, substantially as de scribed.

4. The combination of the spring-pressed slide-valve A1, having pivot at upper and guide-slot at lower end, with the dome and the revolving segmentally-slotted disk at top of' dome, and a square pivot-guide at lower part of dome, as and t'or the purpose specified.

5. The combination ot' covering-plate A2, fastening-pins e2, and clamp-screw e with dome A and the slide-valve A1, to secure covering-plate in rigid but detachable manner, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with slide-valve and explosion-dome, of igniting apparatus G, composed of an outer casing, g, inner burner g2, and air-supply pipe fi, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination, with slide-Valve and explosion-dome, of' burner g2 of igniter Gr, constructed of gas-pipe g1, fixed tube g3, with central exit perforation, and of sliding and spring-acted interior sleeve g4, with sido exit perforations, to extinguish dame at each explosion, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the slide-valve and air-pipe i, of the spring-acted air-supply cock 2 of igniter G, with contact-face i3 of dome, to close air-supply during upward motion of slide-valve to prevent extinction of igniting iame, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of slide-valve, explosion-dome, and igniter with an air-pipe, fi, spring-acted cock i3, and an air-pumping apparatus, to supply air to the igniter instantly after the explosion, for expelling the gases of combustion and relighting the burner, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, with the explosiondome and siphon, of Wheel-casing C, having liquid-channels p pl and chutes p3, with the paddle-wheel G1, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the explosiondome and siphon, of liquid-valves E1 E2, with the wheel-casing O and paddle-wheel Ol, ,to govern the flow of liquid in forward and return direction, substantially as set forth.

12. In a gas-engine, constructed substantially as shown, the combination, with paddle- Wheel casing C, of the liquid-reservoir D, having central open tube D', for admission of atmospheric air, substantially as set forth.

13. [n a gas-engine, constructed substantially as shown, the combination, with paddle- Wheel casing U, of the liquid-reservoir D, having interior guard-cover q, with extension q1, substantially as described.

14. In a gas-engine, constructed substantially as shown, the combination, with paddle-Wheel casing U, of liquid-reservoir D by pipe ql, with drip-receptacle q2 of explosiondome, to conduct liquid escaping from dome to reservoir, substantially as set forth.

15. The explosion-dome, having top extension-chamber A3, With exit-opening n for gases of combustion, in combination with slidevalve n1 and outer swinging valve n2, substantially as described.

16. The combination of extension-chamber A3 of explosion-dome, having exit-opening n, with slide-Valve nl and pendent valves s, sliding along inside of dome, to assist expulsion ofgases and closing of exit-opening n, substantially as described.

17. The combination, With the explosiondome, of slide-Valve nl of extension-chamber A3, with fulcrumed and spring-acted lever n3, rod n4, and crank 5 of valve E2 of siphonpipe, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, With explosion-dome and chamber A3, ofhorizontal plate s3, attached to slide-valve u1, and having central pin s2, with sliding and pendent valves s, substantially as set forth.

JOSEPH WERTHEIM. Witnesses:

WM. G. WEBSTER, F. T. BENNER. 

